"We Are Tottenham" book, or other Spurs books?

[KHowe]

One more final left then I'm on summer vacation (thankfully). Looking to pick up some new summer reading, and saw this one on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Tottenham-Voices-White/dp/1840188316/ref=pd_sbs_b_2/026-6662637-0888417

Seemed to get good reviews, but was wondering if any of you have read it, or any other football books that you can recommend?

I read "Among the Thugs" by Bill Buford last summer and thought it was fantastic, but is really the only football related book I can recommend.

[pookspur]

it's a pretty good read for spurs fans. i'm not sure i'd consider it riveting were i not one.

without question the best spurs-related book i've ever read - and i think there's pretty much a consensus on this - is Glory Game by Hunter Davies. he was (is) a journalist who was granted almost total access to the tottenham club and team during the '71-'72 season - something that could never happen these days. alot of it is dated, as football's changed immeasurably since then; but much of it is still relevant, and even what's not is pretty fascinating.

no less outdated and irrelevant than among the thugs, though, if you think about it; but that doesn't make it any less readable.

[pookspur]

my list of football books worth reading (in order):

glory game by hunter davies - see above.

fever pitch by nick hornby - he's a gooner, and his arse-love is not entirely palatable for spurs fans; but it's really about being a fan, and it will resonate with fans of any club (and in any sport).

the miracle of castel di sangro by joe mcguinness - another journalist's year with another club; this one in the italian second division.

football against the enemy by simon kuper. journo goes around much of the world looking at political/economical/cultural influences upon and from the game.

those are really the only four* i'd recommend on genuine literary merit. there are alot of others that may not really be good books, in their own right (i sell books for a living, so i may have a slightly different perspective), but they could have definitely have appeal for footy fans - not unlike among the thugs and we are tottenham, both of which i found quite readable, but i certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone but a fan.

barney ronay, a regular contributor to when saturday comes magazine, has a book out called any chance of a game?, which is an interesting look at sunday football, and the culture of the game as it is played by countless amateurs accross england. i rather liked much of it.

i've heard quite a few fans say that they've liked how soccer explains the world by franklin foer, in which he looks at globalization through the prism of the world of football. personally, i thought it was pretty weak.

yikes, i've got to run; but there are alot of books that will fit into this catagory. i won't waste more of anyone's time, though.


*that i've read.

[Danners9]

Morbo by Phill Ball, spanish football A-Z.

Once Upon A Time in Naples, John Ludden. Maradona joins Napoli, shit ensues.. good fun.

Beautiful Orange, David Winner. Dutch football, paranoia to brilliance and underachievement. One of the best books i've ever read.

Ajax, The Dutch, The Second World War, Simon Kuper. Might not be the exact title but close enough. Touching, funny and sad. Ajax and Dutch football in the 2nd world war and holocaust experiences.

There's a book following the Spurs Double side of 60/61 by Ken Ferris which is good.

Surprised my memory extends beyond the last drinks order but here we go. Good books, well worth a read I would say.

[KHowe]

Thanks alot for the suggestions, pook and Danners. I'll be writing these names down and see if I can find them next week.

[pookspur]

not terribly observant of me. i was thinking the thread said 'other football books', whereas it say 'other spurs books'. i've rambled again.

anyway, i forgot to mention one spurs-related title that's not too bad. it's called The Great Divide (can't remember the author, i'll get it), and looks at the north london clubs through the '99-'00 season. it doesn't always make for pleasant reading, what with the arse being near top form and us, well, not.

that said, it gives some pretty decent insight as to why we were such crap with alan sugar running the show, and - if one chooses to look at it this way - just how much the arse are going to miss david dein. look at it as a history book, as the divide to which the title refers is becoming a thing of the past.
still, some interesting insights into the cultures and traditions at both clubs.

i doubt that it's still in print, but i know there are still some distributors' warehouses with a copy or two still in stock.

[KHowe]

I'm certainly not narrowing down choices to Spurs books, and I'm open ears to others. Not your fault, pook, I should have made it more general. I'd rather read a quality book than a lackluster one just because it's about Spurs (though I'm sure none of the ones recommended in this thread are lackluster).

Has anyone read any good autobiographys?

[alexspepa]

the miracle of castel di sangro by joe mcguinness

I loved this book...it's a real life story about a small Italian club that got promoted two divisions. The ending is a bit of a downer, and pretty much sums up Italian football.

[Skizz]

I've read Beckham's (alright, quite good for the England insights) and, surprisingly, SAF's. Was good about his roots from Scotland and growing to where he is now. I think it finished just after the season he kicked Beckham out, but they may have added other chapters now.

I don't think you'd want to know the others. Wright, Merson, Vieira, Adams...

[KHowe]

Just finished the Mario Puzo book I was reading yesterday, so I ordered Glory Game this morning, thanks Pook. Also ordered Beckham's biography, the only other one on the list of books I could find. I'll search some more sites when I finish these two.

[Jensers]

The Glory Game is fantastic... I would say that it is the best football related book I have ever read.

One of the team members that plays a significant role in the book is Ray Evans. He was Joe Kinnear's reserve and he stepped into the position following Joe's injury. The author follows the impact of Ray playing well and Joe having to sort out how to deal with not getting his spot back. Ray eventually has a slip in form and Joe made his way back into the first team.

Ray went on to make 181 appearances for Spurs - including a UEFA Cup Final, then Millwall, Fulham, Stoke, and bounced around in the US before ending up in Seattle with the Sounders.

Anyway - he lives near me. If anyone would like to have him sign their copy of the Glory Game, I would be happy get that for you - send me a PM.

Also - if there is any question that you would be interested in asking him about that season, or anything about another age in Tottenham football, I will ask him and post his response.

This is a man who has been to the highest level of European football, and come of age under one of the most famous and respected managers in the history of English Football.

[Jensers]

Also -

How Football Explains the World - is alright, but not great.
Among the Thugs - is great. I would recommend this to anyone.
Brilliant Orange - is good, but I dont like dutch football so I wouldnt read it again.
Fever Pitch - was good, but it is about Arsenal so...
Blood and Guts at the World Cup - is worth reading, and it is an easy read.

Bloody Confused is on deck for me. I have heard that I should not expect too much, but that it will be a fun read.

[KHowe]

I agree, I've read both Glory Game and Among The Thugs and would recommend either. I found Among The Thugs particularly well written and had trouble putting it down.

[jumhed]

Tony Cascarino's book is good too. Its not about Spurs, but he did play alongside Sheringham at Millwall, and couldn't believe he was being bossed around by the kid.

[Phillyspur]

There's a new one out, The Boys from White Hart Lane, about the 80's side. My era so I will definitely put that ont he Christmas list.

[BG13]

I want to second (and third, and so on) the recommendations for:

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, Morbo (all about the history of football in Spain), and Among the Thugs. Interesting about Among the Thugs--it used to only be found in the sociology section, not the sports section of a bookstore. Also, how soccer explains the world is okay but has too much overlap if you read some of these others.

The Glory Game is the only Spurs specific book I have read. It is pretty much regarded as THE English football book, not just Spurs book. The inner workings of a big club.

Some others definitely worth mentioning:

Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galiendo
Tor! The Story of German Football by Uli Hesse-Licthenberger
Futebol by Alex Bellos (all about Brazilian futbol at all levels. Very interesting).

[electrickeeper]

I want to second (and third, and so on) the recommendations for:

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, Morbo (all about the history of football in Spain), and Among the Thugs. Interesting about Among the Thugs--it used to only be found in the sociology section, not the sports section of a bookstore. Also, how soccer explains the world is okay but has too much overlap if you read some of these others.

The Glory Game is the only Spurs specific book I have read. It is pretty much regarded as THE English football book, not just Spurs book. The inner workings of a big club.

Some others definitely worth mentioning:

Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galiendo
Tor! The Story of German Football by Uli Hesse-Licthenberger
Futebol by Alex Bellos (all about Brazilian futbol at all levels. Very interesting).

Nice to see you over here.

Miracle of Castel di Sangro is great.

Haven't read The Glory Game yet, will put it on my Christmas list.